Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

67 reviews

emmersnicole's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

5.0

best book

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence

perfect for people with brains

davidrb's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

Not giving this one a rating.

One of my favorite books when it comes to technical skill and the clear love and talent Nabokov has for his craft, a marvel of characterization that is almost too strong, and at the same time the worst book to actually read. This is my first time returning to it since I was about Dolly's age, and it's as profoundly upsetting as it gets. Nobody wins.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Car accident, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Incest, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Violence

maryyylorraine's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Murder, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Violence

house_of_hannah's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

It's been two days since I finished this book, and I still have no idea how to write a review. I think many write this book off as creepy pedo fodder, but wow is it so much more than it's title indicates. This is a descent into the psyche of a mentally ill man who twists reality to abolish his guilt. 

Our narrator, Humbert Humbert, who we never learn the true name of, twists a tale to try to make himself out as the victim. However, he has moments of clarity where he realizes how terrible what he is doing is, and considers himself a monster. These moments are then erased by his mind twisting the actions of a young girl into something they should never be perceived as. There are also cracks here though, as he notices Dolly (Lolita) crying herself to sleep every night, and how she reacts to a normal father/daughter relationship. 

This book starts off in one direction, but then takes many twists and turns to where we are experiencing the genres of horror, mystery, thriller, and psychology as well. The very beginning of this story starts with Humbert already in custody, so this is a retelling of events. He's quite good at self-analysis, and begins his tale with explaining the event that happened in his childhood that has caused his vile tastes. As someone who is interested in the psychology behind our actions I find this book to be fascinating and frighteningly realistic.

Nabokov has written this book in a way that flows beautifully. So little is outright said, and instead many euphamisms are used to keep the lyrical effect. It constrasts so well with the actual content that I can definitely see why some might call this a masterpiece. Nonetheless, I honestly could not imagine reading this book if I had children of my own. The last sentence of the Foreword really stuck with me through this story (It is also written by a Nabokov character). It is as follows: "Lolita should make all of us - parents, social workers, educators - apply ourselves with still greater vigilance and vision to the task of bringing up a better generation in a safer world."

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Stalking, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Rape, Pedophilia, Mental illness, Incest, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Child abuse

Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Violence

Minor: Blood, Pregnancy, Murder, Medical content, and Gun violence

theplaguedoctorreads's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Incest, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Violence

joppen's review against another edition

challenging dark sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Read this (very slowly) after listening to Jamie Loftus’ incredible Lolita Podcast, which goes into depth about how this book has been dangerously misinterpreted and adapted. 

Reading it for myself, I can’t for the life of me see how anyone could read this and interpret it as a love story. When I got the book I was shocked to see the insert sleeve, calling it “a love story almost shocking in its beauty and tenderness,” and a blurb on the back from says it’s the “only convincing love story of our century.” It’s not. It’s literally about a pedophile abducting and r*ping a 12-year old girl for years. The book is literally never ambiguous about that. 

Horrible, despicable, unbelievable misinterpretations aside, this book is beautifully written and deeply harrowing. Nabakov’s prose is incredible especially because English isn’t even his first language?? The writing especially lends itself to the book’s unreliable narrator theme when Humbert is describing these horrible acts he commits, while simultaneously trying to construct poems and witticisms to appease the reader. It only adds to his despicable he is (to anyone with any sense of reading comprehension.)

Overall a very hard read but I’m glad I got through it. Gonna listen to the podcast again.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Minor: Gun violence and Death of parent

kingorgan's review against another edition

challenging dark sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

I can't say I enjoyed it, but I'm glad I read it. The author genuinely did a very good job with his characterizations and it was absolutely sickening at times - but not every book is there to make you feel comfortable.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Car accident, Child abuse, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Violence